Apparatus for processing yarn



July 12, 1932.

W. C. VOLK APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING YARN Filed June 15, 1929 3 Sheets- Sheet 1 8 w/nvzss.

076 of 27M.

ATTORNEY-5.

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING YARN Filed June 15, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 wlr/vzas 5r dfiym, m

ATTOR/VA'YJY Patented July 12, 1932 UNITED STATES.

PATENT orrlce WALTER C. VOLK, OI ROME, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR '10 SKENAN'DOA. RAYON CORPORA- TION, OF UTICA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE APPARATUS PROCESSING YARN Application filed June 15, 1929. Serial No. 871,280.

This invention relates to a new and improved mechanism to be used in the process of treating .yarn or thread which may be made of such materials as silk, cotton, rayon, and so forth.

The'main object of this invention is to construct a compact and easily operated mecha-' nism adapted to support a large number of cones, spools or bobbins which have been previously wound with a desired quantity of yarn or thread, such as cotton, silk, or any other material which'it may be desired to process, and to subject such yarn or thread to a series of processing treatments withoutit being necessary .to remove the bobbins or spools with the yarn-thereon from the ma: chine until the processing of the yarn is completely or to the desired extent finished.

Another object is to reduce the handling of the yarn to a minimum, and eliminate the necessity of winding it into skeins preparatory to the processing treatment, thereby substantially eliminating de-grading and thereby producing a much more perfect yarn or thread. o

Other objects and'advantages relating to the details of construction will more fully appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a yarn processing, mechanism embodying the various elements of this invention.

Figure 2 is-an enlarged plan View of one of the bobbin-carrying units taken in the plane ofline 22, Figure 3.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail vertical section taken on the line 33, Figure 1..

Figure l is an enlarged detail longitudinal section of one of the bobbin carrier heads taken on line H, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a cross-section taken on line 55, Figure 2.

As illustrated in the drawings, the apparatus consists of a main vertically disposed supportmgmember l supported by and adapted to rotate on suitable rolling bearing members 2' and ''3-, secured to the lower and upper ends respectively, of said supporting member. The bearing members 2- and 3-- may be secured to and sup ported by any convenientmeans such as t e floor A and ceiling B respectively of the room in which the a paratus is located. A plurality of, in this mstance nine, bobbin carrying chambered head members 4 are provided 3 and disposed in a horizontal plane a suitable distance above the lower end of the supporting arm 1. Each of'the head members -4-- is supported by and adapted to rotate with the supporting arm 1, by meansof radial extending arms '--5-, connected at their inner ends to a bracket -6-, secured to the supporting arm '-1 and'havin their outer ends secured to a collar --7-'-, w ich is secured to the outer end of respective head members 4. The inner ends of the head members -'4--may be secured to the arm -1 by means of spaced radial armsv or brackets -8 and '-9. secured at their inner ends to brackets-IO- and --11 respectively, which are secured in spaced relation, intermediate the bracket 6-and hearing. member -2, to the supporting arm 1-. The outer end of said brackets -8 and -9- may be secured to a collar s-12-- rovided on the inner end of the head memher --i. The brackets 10- and 11- are positioned at substantially equal distances oneither side of the horizontal plane of the head members d-, thereby supporting the inner end of said head members against vertical movement, while the arms 5 and bracket 6- main ain the respective head members iin a horizontal plane.

The chambered head members d consist of, in this instance, a plurality of standard pipe crossmembers 13, joined together longitudinally by suitable relatively short pieces of pipe or nipples ltso as to make one continuous chamber 4J- through said head. The lateral openings of the cross members 13- have screw-thread.-

thread or yarn woundon the surface thereof,

over the perforated portion,-so that any liquid supplied to the inner chamber-of the bobbin may be forced through the perforations and the yarn wound thereon. The outer ends member, in registration with the lower portion of the bobbin 16- so that when the supply of fluid is cut-off and the pressure released, the fluid will be free to flow out through the opening l8 and head 4, to a'drainage or return system which willbe hereinafter more fully described. The outer end of each of the head members 4 may be opened or closed at will by means of a valve 24- screw-threaded thereon, and when opened will permit any fluid remaining 'in said head to flow freely therefrom and if desired be discharged into a receptacle or vat 25-, located in a horizontal plane "beneath the head 4 and in proximity thereto. The vat -25 may be supported upon legs or brackets --26-, which in turn, are supported upon the floor A. The vats 25 may consist, as shown, of a circular plate or ring bottom 27- having concentric 'up-turned vertical peripheral walls --28 and 29, the distance between said Wallsbeing greater than the length of the head members -4, so that any fluid passing through the bobbins supported by the head will drain into the vat 25'. The vat 25- may be divided into liquid tight compartments --30, one for each bobbin carrier head 4', by radially extending vertically disposed partitions or walls -3lsecured to or integral with the bottom 27- and side walls 28- and 29-.

Each of the compartments 30 of the vet 25 may be connected with its respectlv'e fluid pump 33, by pipes as 34- WhlCh are connected at one end to said pump and at the other end to the bottom 27, in

communication with the respective compartment 30. The pump 33- may be supported in an convenient manner as by the floor A and e driven by a belt 36 connected to a motor or other driving means, not shown. The pump is provided to draw the fluid from the respective vat compartment 30 through the pipe 34 and force said fluid through a vertically disposed p pe system 37 into respective supply tanks or'vats'40, disposed in a horizontal plane near the upper end of the supportingarm -1. Each of the saidvats may be supported upon a suitable frame 4-1 which, in turn, 1s supported by a horizontally disposed platform orifloor as C, which is positioned intermediate the ends of said supporting arm.

The supply tanks or vats 40'- ma b ar ranged about the 'supportim arm '1 in any convenient manner and are each provided with an outlet pipe 43- which may bersecured to said vats at or near the bottom thereof, and may extend to one ormore fluid;

feed cups as 44-. The said cups -4. -l-,j, may as shown, be of relatively small U or cup shaped construction, positioned in a horizontal plane below the supply vars 40, one cup for each bobbin carrier head. Each of the cups is connected to the inner end of a corresponding bobbin carrier head 4, by a pipe +-45, said pipes forming supports for the respective feed cups, and also causing them to rotate with the carrier heads --4 about the axis of supporting arm 1. -The amount of fluid supplied to each of the feed cups 44 may be controlled by a valve 47 provided in the outlet pipe 43-, one valve for each feed cup supplied by the pipe. Each of the feed cups 44- may also supply fluid to an auxiliary process head -48-, by means of a vertically disposed pipe system -49, which in this instance has the upper end thereof screw-threaded into the side of the.

shown a specially constructedtubular member 5- 1- of substantially the same length as the carrier head 4., and provided with radial horizontally disposed flanges 55, extending from either side of the tubular member 54- in the vertical plane of the bobbin carrier flanged members l5.

A pipe or tubular member as 56- has one end thereof screw-threaded into each of said flanges and extendsv outwardly therefrom a distance substantially equal to that of the bobbin -16 when in the operative position in the head 4-. The outer end of the pipes 56 may be closed by a cap 57- screw-threaded on the outer end thereof. A series of perforations 58 are provided in the lower side wall of the pipe 56 for a distance substantially equal to that portion of the bobbin which is covered by the thread or yarn Wound thereon, so that when it is desired to do so the thread on therespeetive bobbin 16 may be subjected to an additional supply of processing fluid by opening a shut-ofivalve as -59, provided in each of the supply pipes .49.

lll)

When in operation, a fluid flowing from the supply tanks 40- through pipes -43- to the respective feed cups 44.- is usually of greater quantity than that which will pass through the outlet pipes 45- and -49- the vat 25- and consists of a circular or ring platev bottom -62 having upwardly turned vertical peripheral walls -63 and -6. The vat is divided into liquid tight compartments -65' by means of radial extending vertically disposed parti-- tions or walls 66- which divide the vat -60 intovas man chambers as there are feed cups rain pipes as 67 are connectedto the bottom -62--,.one in registration with each of the compartments 65-, and are connected at-their lower ends to drain pipes'.34-'leading from the coeach used to contain operating compartments-'30 of the vat Inthe processingof thread or yarn such as-rayon, it is necessar 'that the yarn be brought into contact wit and be acted upon by a number of diiferentfluids; as, for instance, the thread or yarn ma first be washed by water, after which 1t may be treated by a desulphurizing agent such as, for instance, sodium sulphide, and then it may again be washed by water; after that it may be treated with a bleaching agent as, for instance, a solution treated with chlorine, and so on until the am or thread has been processedto the desired degree.

I have, therefore, illustrated a number of supply vats -40, one of which may contain water and have the outlet pipe 43 lead to one, two, or more of the feed cups 44", depending upon the desired amount and frequency of the treatment of the thread i by water Another of the supply'vats may contain thedesulphurizing agent, while another one may be used to contain .the bleaching agent, and the remaining vats may be other desired processing 7 it is now evident, that with one of the carrier heads loaded with bobbins which have yarn orv thread wound thereon and with the feed cup -i4- connected therewith, in registration with one of thevoutlet pipes -43, that the fluid contained in the particular supply vat 40 to which said outlet pipe is connected will flow when the valve --e(---is opened into said feed cup and from there throu h the respective pipes -45 into the cham er 4- of the head --4. and then flow through the ports 18 to the interior of the respective bobbins 16-, where the fluid will be forced under pressure created by fluid in the pipes 45- throu h the perforations and the yarn or three wound on said bobbins, it being understood that the valve 24- of said head 4- is in the closed position.

This processing may continue until the consideration, whereupon the supply of fluid may be cut-off by closingthe' respective valve 47, or by rotating the chambered heads 4 together with the feed-cups 44 connected therewith suiiiciently to bringsaid feed cups out of registration with the outlet pipes 43 "and then by opening the valve --24=, the fluid remaining in the feed cup 4t-,- pipe 45, chamber 4''-, and the interior of the bobbins *16- will be permitted to'flow freely into the vat --25- and return by the action of the respective pump 33 to the supply vat -40, or if it is desired to do so, as when water is being .used, the drain pipe 34. may be connected to a drainage system not shown,'whereupon the fiuid in supply vat -40 may be replenished from any suitable source as a water system so that La fresh supply of water will bealways available forcle'a'nsing purposes.

After-the supply of fluid has been cut-off and the drainage valve 24.- opened, the respective head -.4 may remain in its present position until the thread or yarn carried by the bobbins has drained to the desired degree, during which time the next succeeding bobbin carrier head may be loaded with threadv wound bobbins, after which all the'mechanism mounted upon and supported by the supporting arm lwhich includes the bobbin carrier heads '-a, auxoutlet pipes -4%}-leading to the respective feed cups in communication with said loaded carrier heads, the thread carried bythe bobbins secured to said loaded heads will be yarn is thoroughly treated by the fluid under so i treated by the fluid contained in the respective supply tanks -4i0-.

These series of processingtreatments may continue until the first carrier head 4- to be loaded has ccmpleted the cycle that is,

made one revolution about the axis of the supporting arm -i-, whereupon the yarn or thread carried thereb will have been processed to the desired egree and the b0 bins with the thread thereon may then be removed and replaced by bobbins having) unprocessed thread wound thereon, to be su jected to the different processing treatments.

As hereinbefore stated, any of the auxiliary heads at8- may be used to supply an additional amount of the processing fluid to the thread or yarn carried by the bobbins mounted on the respective carrier head 4- by opening the respective valve 59- positioned in the pipe 49--, and of course'this additional supply of fluid may be discontinued at any time it is desired to do so by closing said valve.

It is also evident that if it is desirable to omit one or more of the process treatments as, for instance, the washing of the yarn by water at one of the stations supplied from the tank 4-() having the outlet pipe 43- thereof leading to a plurality of feed cups 1. A yarn processing apparatus comprising a rotatable supporting means, a chambered head secured to the supporting means having an inlet and a plurality of outlets, a

plurality of removable members having perforated walls secured in a liquid-tight man ner to the head, each one of said members registered with an outlet from the head,

means connected with the head for draining said head, feeding means connected with the head adapted to supply fluid through the head to the interiors of said members, and fluid-supplying means adapted at a predetermined position to supply fluid to the feeding means.

2. A yarn. processing apparatus compris ing a. rotatable supporting means, 9. Chembered head secured to the su porting means having an inlet and a plurality of outlets, a

luralit of removable tubular members havmg per orated walls secured in a liquid-tight manner to the head, each one of said mem-- bers registered with an outlet from the head, a dramage outlet from said head, a valve for controlling said drainage outlet, fluid-supplying means adapted to supply. fluid through the head to the interior of said tubular members, and means for returning the drainage to said supply means.

3. A yarn processing apparatus comprising a rotatable supporting means, a cham-- bered head secured'to the supporting means havin an inlet and a plurality of outlets, a plurality of removable tubular members having perforated walls secured to 'the head, each one of the said members registered with an outlet from the head, fluid supplyin plurality of removable tubular members having perforated walls secured to the head, each one of said'members registered with an outlet from the head, feeding means-connected with the head for supplying fluid through the head to the interior of the tubular members, fluid supplying means adapted in a predetermined position to supply fluid to said feeding means and an auxiliary means connected with the feeding. means adapted to supplying fluid to the outside of said tubular members.

i 5. A yarn processing apparatus comprising a movable supporting means, a chambered head secured to the supporting means, a perforated bobbin adapted to carry yarn secured to said head, a conduit connected to the head for supplying fluid thereto,and a plurality of fluid-supply tanks each having an outlet for fluid unconnected to but adapted to be disposed above the conduit for supplying fluid to the head at different predetermined positions of the supporting means.

6. A yarn processing apparatus comprising a rotatable supporting means, a chambered head secured to the supporting means,

a perforated bobbin adapted to carry'yarn secured to said head, a'conduit connected to the head for supplying fluid thereto, and a plurality of fluid-supply tanks each having an outlet for fluid unconnected to but adapted to be disposed above the conduit for supplying fluid to the head at different predetermined rotated positions of the supportin means.

i. A yarn processing apparatus comprising a rotatable supporting means, a chambered head secured to the supporting means, a perforated bobbin adapted to carry yarn secured to said head, a conduit connected to the head for supplyingfluid thereto, a plu rality of fluid-supply tanks each having an outlet for fluid unconnected to but adapted to be disposed above the conduit for su plying fluid to the head at difi'e'rent pre etermined rotated portions of the supporting means, and additional means below said outlets for collecting fluid when a conduit is not positioned below the outlet.

8. Apparatus for treatment of yarn with Z a plurality of processin fluids comprising, in combination, a rotata 1e vertical shaft; a plurality of, hollow, chambered, fluid-distributin manifolds mounted on. said shaft and rigidly secured thereto for rotation therewith, and each provided with affluid inlet orifice and a plurality of fluid discharge orifices; a hollow perforated yarn-support adapted for the support of artificial silk yarn, associated with each of said fluid dischargeorifices and communicating therethrough with the interior of'the fluid distributlng manifold with which it is associated; avertical fluid conduit associated with, and extending upwardly above, each of said fluid distributing manifolds and communicating with the interior chamber thereof through said fluid inlet orifice therein, said vertical fluid conduits being secured to said vertical rotatable shaft for rotation therewith; a plurality of fixed fluid supply reservoirs; and means wherebyprocessing fluid can be discharged from said reservoirs into said vertical fluid conduits when the latter are brought into operative association with said reservoirs by rotation of said vertical shaft and its associated apparatus, whereby fluid discharged from said reservoirs into said vertical fluid conduits is distributed by said fluid distributing manifolds into the said hollow perforated yarn supports, and forced outwardly through the yarn supported thereby to act thereon, the pressure of the fluid thus forced through the yarn being determined only b the static head of fluid pressure produced y the processingfluid contained in said vertical fluid conduits;

9. Apparatus for treatment of yarn with a plurality of processing fluids comprising, in

combination, a rotatable vertical shaft; a plurality of hollow, chambered, fluid-distri uting manifolds mounted on said shaft and rigidly secured thereto for rotation therewith,-

and each provided with a fluid inlet orifice and a plurality of fluid discharge orifices; a hollow perforated bobbin adapted for the the support of artificial silk yarn, associated with each of said fluid discharge orifices and communicating therethrough with the interior of the fluid distributing manifold with which it is associated; a vertical fluid conduit associated with, and extending upwardly above, each of said fluid distributing manifolds and communicating with the interior chamber'thereof through saidfluid inlet orifice therein, said vertical fluid-conduits being secured to said vertical rota-table shafi for rotation therewith; a plurality of fixed fluid supply reservoirs; and means whereby processing fluid can be discharged from said reservoirs into said vertical fluid conduits when the latter are brought into operative associa- 'tion with said reservoirs by rotation of said voirs intosaid vertical fluid conduits is dis- I tributed by said fluid distributing manifolds into said bobbins, and forced outwardly through the yarn supported thereby to act thereon, the pressure of the fluid thus forced through the yarn being determined only by' the static head of fluid pressure produced by the processing fluid contained in saidvertical fice and a plurality of fluid discharge orifices;

a hollow perforated yarn-support adapted for the support of artificial silk yarn, associ-' ated with each of said fluid discharge orifices and communicating therethrough with the interior of the fluid distributing manifold with which it is associated; a vertical fluid conduit associated with, and extending upwardly above, each of said fluid distributing manifolds and communicating with the interior chamber thereof through said fluid inlet orifice therein, said vertical fluid conduits being secured to said vertical rotatable shaft for rotation therewith; a plurality of fixed fluid supply reservoirs; means whereby processing fluid can be discharged from said reservoirs into said vertical fluid conduits when the latter are brought into operative association with said reservoirs by rotation of said vertical shaft and its associated apparatus, whereby fluid discharged from said reservoirs into said vertical fluid conduits is distributed by said fluid distributing manifoldsinto said perforated yarn supports, and forced outwardly through the yarn supported thereby to act-thereon, the pressure of the fluid thus applied to the yarn being determined only by the static head of fluid pressure produced by the processing fluid contained in said vertical fluid conduits; and auxiliary means for apand rigidly secured thereto for rotation.

therewith, and each provided with a fluid inlet orifice and a plurality offluid discharge orifices; a hollow perforated yarn-support adapted for the support of artificial silk yarn, associated with each of said fluid discharge orifices and communicating therethrough with'the interior of said fluid distributing manifold; a vertical fluid conduit associated with, and extending upwardly above, each of said fluid distributing'manifolds and communicating with the interior chamber thereof through said fluid inlet orifice therein, said vertical fluid conduits being secured to said vertical rotatable shaft for entrapping means associated with the upper -of pressure due to the height 0 7 said supply conduits above said distributing rotation therewith; a plurality of fixed fluid supply reservoirs; means whereby processing fluid can be discharged from said reservoirs into said vertical fluid conduits when the latter are brought into operative association with said reservoirs by rotation of said vertical, shaft and its associated apparatus,

from said entrappin'g meansand returning it to said reservoirs, means for catching treatingliquid which has passed through the yarn and recirculating it to said reservoirs, and auxiliary means for applying treating liquid to the yarn.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of June 1929.

- ALTER C. VOLK.

v whereby fluid discharged from said reser- 'Voirs into said vertical fluid conduits is distributed by said fluid distributin manifolds and discharged through the perforations of said yarn su port, to act upon the yarn supported there y, the pressure ,of the fluid thus applied to the yarn beingdetermined only by the static head of fluid pressure produced by the processing fluid contained in said bly and fixed elements, said rotatable assembl including'a vertical central shaft, a 'plura ity of liquid distributing manifolds, yarn supporting, means-associated with said distributing manifolds, liquid supply conduits above said distributing manifolds, and liquid ends of said supply conduits for entrappm liquid supplied thereto and feeding it to'sai conduits while permitting excess liquid to overflow, whereby the pressure of the liquid supplied to the yarn is substantially constant, and is determined solely b the head manifolds; and said fixed elements including liquid supply reservoirs arranged to supply liquids to said entrapping means.

13. An apparatus for treatment of artificial silk varn including a rotatable assembly and fixe elements, said rotatable assembly including a vertical central shaft, -a plurali ty of liquid distributing manifolds, yarn suporting means associated with said distributmg manifolds, liquid supply conduits above said distributing manifolds, and liquid entrapping means associated (with the upper ends of said suppl conduitsfor entrapping liquid supplied t ereto and feedingit to said conduits while permitting excess liquid to overflow, whereby the pressure of the,

liquid supplied to the yarnin substantially constant, and is determined solely by the head of pressure due to the height of liquid insaid supply conduits above said distributlng manifolds; and said fixed elements ineluding liquid supply reservoirs arranged to.

supply liquids to said entrapping'means, means for catching excess liquid overflowing liquid in I 

